Verbena plant named ‘Balendurpi2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘Balendurpi2’, characterized by its dark purple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Verbena hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Balendurpi2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant botanically known as Verbena hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balendurpi2’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during January 2016. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Verbena cultivars that are durable to environmental stresses, have dark green-colored foliage, and a mounded-spreading growth habit.

The new Verbena cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Verbena hybrid breeding selection coded 22291, not patented, characterized by its dark burgundy-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, trailing growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Verbena hybrid breeding selection coded 22300, not patented, characterized by its dark purple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and medium vigorous, mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2017 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since May 2017 in Arroyo Grande, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balendurpi2’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant:

-   -   1. Dark purple-colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a larger flower diameter and darker green-colored foliage. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having a larger flower diameter and greater growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Verbena cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Endurascape Purple Improved ‘Balendurim’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,479. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balcadavlu’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have less violet coloration than         plants of ‘Balendurim’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger leaves, as measured by         length and width, than plants of ‘Balendurim’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar are taller than plants of         ‘Balendurim’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balendurpi2’. The approximately 3-month-old plants were grown in 6-inch pots for 7 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch two weeks before transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balendurpi2’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balendurpi2’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in December 2019 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 3-month-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 6-inch pots for 7 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch two weeks before transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 67° F. to 72° F. (19° C. to 22° C.) during the day and approximately 64° F. to 66° F. (18° C. to 19° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena hybrid ‘Balendurpi2’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Verbena hybrid breeding selection             coded 22291, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Verbena hybrid breeding selection             coded 22300, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,             mounded-spreading.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 9.0 cm. Width: Approximately 70.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 4.         -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.             Length: Approximately 34.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0             mm to 4.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately             4.0 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of             glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of             N92C and colorless, transparent. Color of young stems: 144A.             Color of mature sterns: 137B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 18. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, obtuse angle with             age. Shape: Ovate to oblong. Margin: Crenate. Apex: Broadly             acute. Base: Truncate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 6.5 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 3.7 cm. Texture of upper surface: Moderately             pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent with             a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface of young and             mature foliage: Closest to but darker than NN137A with             venation of 147C. Color of lower surface of young and mature             foliage: Closest to 137B with venation of 147C.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a             mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 147C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balendurpi2’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             5 to 7 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Corymb. Shape: Hemispherical.             Quantity per plant: Approximately 4. Fragrance: None             detected. Length or height: 5.0 cm. Width: Approximately             6.5 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence:             Approximately 20.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 6.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of N92C and             colorless, transparent. Color: 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Sessile, salverform.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity of             unopened inflorescences per plant: Approximately 4.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, globular at apex.             Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately             3.0 mm. Petal portion 83B, sepal portion 137B.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 2.2 cm.             Depth: Approximately 3.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused at base forming a tube. Shape:             Obovate. Appearance: Velvety. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Emarginate. Length of upper petals from tube: Approximately             9.0 mm. Width of upper petals: Approximately 8.0 mm. Length             of lateral petals from tube: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width of             lateral petals: Approximately 9.0 mm. Length of lower petal             from tube: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width of lower petal:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous             with glandular pubescent base. Texture of lower surface:             Sparsely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of N92C and             colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface when first             open: Closest to but darker than 83A with N81A; lateral and             lower petals have a small area of 157D at throat opening.             Color of lower surface when first and fully open: 83C to 83D             with NN155D at base. Color of upper surface when fully open:             Closest to 83A to 83B with N81A, color appears darker than             but closest to 83A near base; lateral and lower petals have             a small area of 157D at throat opening. Color of whiskers             surrounding the opening of the corolla tube: NN155D.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Diameter at             proximal end: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at distal end:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of outer surface: Upper half             moderately glandular pubescent, lower half glabrous. Gland             color: Colorless. Texture of inner surface: Densely             pubescent. Color of outer surface: 145D with 145C at distal             end. Color of inner surface: 145D with 145C at throat             opening.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with 5 acute tips. Length:             Approximately 1.3 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:             Linear. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Width:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Moderately             pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent with             a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:             Mixture of N92C and colorless, transparent. Color of inner             and outer surfaces: 137B with 145C at base.         -   Stipules.—Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length:             Approximately 8.0 mm. Width at base: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer             surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of N92C and             colorless, transparent. Color of inner and outer surfaces:             145C at base transitioning to 137A at apex.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4,             didynamous. Stamen length of longer pair: Approximately             2.0 mm. Stamen length of shorter pair: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Approximately             1.0 mm. Anther color: N144D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: 1D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil             length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma             length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 137A. Style length:             Approximately 2.0 cm. Style color: 155D with area near             stigma of 145B having a faint overlay of 187A. Ovary             diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary texture: Glabrous,             Ovary color: 144B. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Verbena has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Balendurpi2’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 